Jay G. Barton

Jay Barton grew up in Ottawa, Illinois, and graduated from Ottawa Hills High School. Tired of long Illinois winters, he decided to opt for a college education in the southern part of the United States and entered Duke University.   In 1960, he earned a 

B. A. degree with a major in business administration.  While a student at Duke, Jay met Mary McLaren and they married in 1961.  The Bartons have three children and three grandchildren.  Son Chris and his wife Paula live in Davidson, North Carolina; a second son, Brent, resides in Charlotte, North Carolina; and daughter Pam and husband David are residents of Wellington, New Zealand.  

After completion of his studies at Duke, Jay served as a medic in the United States Army; his active duty and reserve time totaled six years.  Once discharged, he started what he describes as a two career life—first in the cooperate world, followed by the nonprofit sector.  

His time as a sales representative for Gulf Oil included several relocations with the Bartons living in Lansing, Michigan, Jacksonville, Florida, and Orange, Texas.  In the mid-nineteen seventies, Jay accepted a position as Woodlands Manager with Owens-Illinois in Big Island, Virginia, and the Barton family moved to Lynchburg, never to move again.  

In 1985, Jay retired from Owens-Illinois and embarked on his second career-- a consultant with nonprofit organizations with a focus on improving their fund raising efforts. From a long list of successes, Jay highlights his work with the Alzheimer’s Association, that he was a co-founder of the Lynchburg Area Food Bank, and his role in the development of Centra’s PACE program.  Volunteer activities include service as a member and president of the board of Daily Bread.

For fun and fellowship Jay, for at least 15 years, has had coffee each morning with a group of friends at Starbucks, an activity that he plans to continue.  His enthusiasm for Duke, his alma mater, is strong, especially for the basketball team.